Gorakhpur/UNI: A recovery notice has been issued to recover the amount of Rs 40 lakh, which were paid in advance to Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, now that he will not be taking part in a programme scheduled for the Gorakhpur Mahotsav.
District Magistrate K Vijyendra Pandeyan on Monday said that three days back, Sonu Nigam was served a recovery notice and if a positive answer is not received for returning the amount till Feb 25, the district administration will initiate legal process.
The DM said that Sonu Nigam had a programme in the Gorakhpur Mahotsav on Jan 13 but due to a sudden state mourning, the programme was stopped.
He said that Sonu Nigam had been given an advance amount of Rs 40 lakh for the programme and after imposing 18 per cent GST on it, about Rs 50 lakh are outstanding. This is government amount and he will have to return it, he said.
According to Sonu Nigam's representative, the singer's programme was scheduled in the Gorakhpur Mahotsav on Jan 13 but the programme was stopped due to state mourning, while on the next day, Mr Nigam's programme was scheduled in Bhubhaneshwar on Jan 14.
Despite this, Sonu had said that he will take out time on Jan 14 but the administration will have to arrange to bring him directly from Bhubhaneshwar to Gorakhpur. When the plan could not make any progress, an assurance to take part in the next edition of the programme was also given.
The representative said that a proposal from Sonu Nigam to return half of the amount was also sent, but the administration rejected it.
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